The Ping Shui Tower seemed unusually quiet. The gentle spring sunlight lazily shone down on the courtyard, where the garden - full of Chinese roses was in full bloom. Some flower buds were swaying in the wind, showing their strong vitality.
As she walked along the bluestone path surrounded by Chinese roses, she suddenly hesitated.
How could she console this girl?
Ji Shihan was like the flowers in the courtyard, always living under the protection of her family.
However, there was a price for the family's protection.
Before she could think it over, Hongshao spotted her from afar.
"Second young mistress, Hongshao was just about to look for you."
Hongshao was holding a bowl of black medicine that emitted a bitter and astringent smell.
Caixue couldn't help frowning. The smell of the medicine went straight into her nose, and a hint of bitterness appeared on her tongue.
Zhao Luoning also frowned, but not because of the bitterness of the medicine, but because of the person who was going to drink it.
"Has Shihan's illness relapsed again?"
This woman, who had been weak since childhood, couldn't withstand such repeated torments.
"Sigh, we don't know what's going on. Ever since the young mistress came back from the South Courtyard, she's just been sitting there in a daze. And now... Sigh, the young mistress has lost all her looks. It's really heart - wrenching to see."
"Shihan she..."
Zhao Luoning wanted to ask more, but then she heard Shihan's weak voice coming through the window crack.
"Second sister - in - law."
This faint call made Zhao Luoning's heart tremble. She answered and, regardless of her conversation with Hongshao, pushed aside the curtain and walked in.
Although the weather was fine, all the windows were tightly closed, making the room very dim.
There was a faint smell of mold and medicine in the air that the incense couldn't cover up.
Ji Shihan was lying on the bed crookedly, her hair in a mess. Her face was so pale that it blended in with the white silk curtain.
Sure enough, as Hongshao had said, she had lost all her looks. Her eye sockets were deeply sunken, and there was no trace of blood on her face. It seemed that she was just an empty shell.
She had to take several deep breaths before she could muster the strength to say a single sentence.
This situation was far worse than before.
"Shihan, it's only been a few days. How could you..."
Ji Shihan stared blankly at the tears in Zhao Luoning's eyes. Maybe it was because she had shed all her tears, but there was no longer the sparkle in her eyes.
"Among all the people in this family, you, second sister - in - law, are the kindest to me. Unfortunately, Shihan has a poor fate. I'm afraid I'll let down your kind intentions."
Ji Shihan's words made Zhao Luoning's heart ache.
The situation in front of her scared Zhao Luoning. It was as if as long as she let go, Shihan would immediately vanish.
"Don't think such crazy thoughts. Take good care of your body. I'll help you."
Zhao Luoning's voice couldn't help but tremble slightly.
"Shihan is already on her deathbed. There are some things that I have to say now or it will be too late."
Zhao Luoning had no choice but to pat Ji Shihan's hand while nodding with tears in her eyes.
"Go ahead. I'm... I'm listening."
"Some things and some people, once missed, can never be retrieved. While there's still a chance, sister - in - law, you should also think more about yourself."
Zhao Luoning couldn't tell Ji Shihan that she actually had her own plans.
She could only choke out a reply: "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
Ji Shihan listened to her words, took a breath, and then slowly said again.
"Shihan has been trapped in this big mansion all her life. I hope that after I die, second sister - in - law, you can scatter my ashes into the river so that I can be free after death."
Finally, the most taboo word was mentioned.
Zhao Luoning quickly covered her mouth, signaling her not to say any more.
"Shihan, don't talk nonsense. Take good care of your illness. Don't say that word again. It's inauspicious."
Ji Shihan on the bed let out a long sigh, gently closed her eyes, looking extremely tired.
Zhao Luoning thought she was going to rest. She gently let go of her hand, tucked in the quilt for her, and told the maids around her a few words before leaving with a heavy heart.
Back in the Furong Garden, Zhao Luoning's eyelids started to twitch wildly. It seemed as if something big was about to happen.
Zhao Luoning sat alone in the room, thinking of countermeasures.
At present, this was a marriage arranged by her parents and matchmaker. It would be very difficult for her to break it off.
Moreover, Ji Shihan's heart - ailment was not this marriage, but Ning Huainan.
Big Brother Ning didn't like her.
Even if she managed to break off this marriage with Sima Yi this time, there would be Shangguan Yi and Situ Yi in the future.
Shihan was already of marriageable age and would be married off sooner or later.
It would all be in vain.
Zhao Luoning had a lot on her mind and didn't fall asleep until very late.
Unexpectedly, in the middle of her sleep, there was a loud "boom", which startled Zhao Luoning, who was already sleeping uneasily.
She opened her hazy eyes and found that it had started to rain. The sound of the rain washing the floor was especially loud in the pitch - black night.
It was terrifying to listen to.
It was very dark all around. The lamp in the lantern hanging in front of the eaves had long been blown out by the wind. Cold wind mixed with rain drifted in through the window.
Why did it suddenly start to rain?
Zhao Luoning was puzzled as she got out of bed in the dark. She found a fire starter in the drawer, lit a candle, and put down the bamboo pole propping up the window. The sound of the rain immediately became dull.
She rubbed her forehead, which ached slightly from the wind, and wrapped her clothes tighter.
After closing the window, she was about to get back into the quilt to sleep.
At this time, someone knocked on the door, and Caixue's voice came.
"Miss, open the door. Something big has happened."
Since Ji Shisu was out of town and hard to come back during this period, Zhao Luoning rarely got up at night, so she didn't let the maid sleep with her.
Normally, Caixue should be sleeping in her room at this time. Why did she come here?
Filled with doubt, Zhao Luoning casually put on a cape and opened the door a crack to prevent the cold wind from blowing in.
By the light of the candle, she found that Caixue was only wearing her underclothes. She was drenched from head to toe, and drops of water were still falling from her hair. She must have run here in the rain.
"Miss, the eldest young mistress is gone."
Caixue rushed forward and grabbed Zhao Luoning's sleeve with her wet hands, telling her this news like a thunderbolt in the rain.
As if on cue, the sky sent a loud thunder, accompanied by the increasing sound of rain, as if it was going to wash away all the unhappiness in the world.
"What did you say?"
"The eldest young mistress is gone. The people from the Ping Shui Tower just sent the news."
Zhao Luoning couldn't accept this news. When she went to see Shihan in the morning, she was still fine. It had only been a few hours. How could she just be gone?
She was still thinking about helping Shihan find a way to get rid of Sima Yi. How could the person just disappear in the blink of an eye?!
How could she believe this?!